Karen Miner is the Associate Editor for SheKnows Food. She is a freelance writer, recipe developer and is also the cook, author and photographer behind the food blog, Tasty Trials, a collection of original recipes and stories. She and he...

Get your body bikini-ready!

Beach volleyball player and two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor clearly knows a thing or two about staying fit and looking great. Find out her secrets to getting your body bikini-ready for summer.

SheKnows had the chance to talk with Misty May-Treanor about her diet secrets to maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle, how you can look like a beach volleyball pro, the upcoming summer Olympics and how you can win a private volleyball clinic with her.

Eating right

It might surprise you that Misty May-Treanor doesn’t steer completely clear of sugar, loves to eat chips and dip from time to time, will have a cookie if she’s craving it and doesn’t starve herself. But she does listen to her body and eats in moderation. She says, “moderation is key, but also learning what good foods are,” and recommends eating more frequently, instead of two or three big meals a day, which she says isn’t enough. “Having food readily accessible to you throughout the day is key,” because it keeps your energy up and doesn’t require you to completely refuel every time, which is when we tend to overeat.

She carries fruit, healthy snacks and even a simple turkey sandwich with her. “People think carbs are bad, but they’re not bad. Your body needs carbs,” she says. She likes to maintain a balance of both protein and carbs in her diet, especially while working out because keeping a high energy level is important to stave off fatigue and keep your blood sugar up. And don’t skip that first meal of the day. “It is really important to eat breakfast in the morning, especially after working out. Whole foods are what your body needs,” she says.

Working out

Although working out is an important part of staying fit, Misty says that she finds that people may work out but tend not to follow through in other areas, like diet. “People don’t realize that you can exercise all you want, but diet is a very important component for being in the best shape or shedding the weight.” But do try to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, even if it’s just walking. “Everyone has 30 minutes,” she says.

The secret?

We all want that one piece of advice that will lead us down the easiest path to a toned and trim body. But Misty May-Treanor says it’s a combination of things. She suggests finding the right diet for you, but making sure it is something you can stick to. Starting a food journal for the first few days of a new diet is key to truly understanding what foods you’re eating and how they make you feel. This will help you get into a healthier routine. She also says that simply paying more attention to what you eat can help a lot, like ordering dressing on the side and thinking about the condiments you’re using. These foods can all be very high in calories.

The most important point that we kept coming back to was making smart food choices. Misty says that when it comes to losing weight, diet is more important than exercise for her. “Consider your diet,” she says. “If you maintain a healthy diet, or at least are smart about your food choices, you’ll still see the pounds come off.” Perhaps that is the secret to looking like a beach volleyball pro.

Olympic Games

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games are right around the corner, where Misty and her partner, Kerri Walsh, will defend their title and compete for a third gold medal. Misty May-Treanor is currently partnered with Arnold/Brownberry/Oroweat breads, the official bread supplier of the U.S. Olympic team. She says she’s excited to be partnering with Oroweat and is thrilled to be offering a private volleyball clinic to one lucky winner who creates the best sandwich recipe. To enter, go to the Arnold/Oroweat Facebook page and submit your favorite sandwich recipe. You’ll also find some of Misty’s favorite sandwich recipes there, along with tips on staying healthy.